My column that appeared in this week's Connection Newspaper:

As state legislators head to Richmond for the 2010 Session of the General Assembly, competing budget proposals by outgoing Governor Tim Kaine and incoming Governor-Elect Bob McDonnell will be foremost on the agenda. These are tough times for state legislatures around the country. Since early 2007, Virginia has slashed $7 billion from its two-year General Fund budget of roughly $30 billion. State services across the board have been affected by layoffs and program reductions.

Still, Virginia has fared better than most states. Our unemployment rate has declined from its peak and is now nearly four points below the national average. We have attracted $13.5 billion in new economic investments in the last four years, including five Fortune 500 companies. Both Hilton and SAIC moved their international headquarters to McLean this past fall. We have preserved our coveted Triple A bond rating, and we have maintained an excellent public education system from pre-K through higher education, factors that have repeatedly earned us the designation as “the best state in which to do business.”

In Virginia, the General Assembly is constitutionally required to balance its budget. Given that current revenue is not sufficient to fund existing programs, even at already reduced levels, the legislature must now find an additional $4.2 billion in savings, spending cuts, or new money to offset current declines – preferably without doing permanent damage to the structure of our economy. The theme of this year’s Assembly will be: “What Do We Expect Government to Do?”

The underlying principles of the 2010 Session will center on the basic expectations for what we call “core government services.” Can we maintain an acceptable pupil-teacher ratio in our schools? Hold the line on college tuition? Have an ambulance or fire truck to show up in less than five minutes? Find a caregiver for a disabled loved one? Do we expect the state to identify and assist the mentally ill? How will VDOT maintain our streets?

When revenue projections fall dramatically, how much are we willing to alter our expectations rather than fund the shortfall? Over the longer term we can find greater efficiencies and savings in government, such as my proposal to overhaul the state’s cumbersome and costly workforce training programs. But these longer-term solutions are no substitute for the difficult work and tough choices before the legislature right now.

Governor Kaine has proposed $2.3 billion in spending cuts and $1.9 in income tax increases to be dedicated to local governments as reimbursement for the total elimination of the car tax. He has stated that further cuts to core services would jeopardize our ability “to climb out of this national recession” with our status as an economic and educational leader intact. Governor-Elect McDonnell has stated categorically that he will not raise taxes during his term. He can and will amend Governor Kaine’s budget proposals and in doing so will have to identify nearly $2 billion in additional cuts. He has also pledged to reopen the highway rest stops and to double the funds used to entice businesses to Virginia, requiring an additional $25 million annually.

What do we expect government to do? The answer may vary among the voters, but if the question is never asked, the predictable result will be the lowest common denominator of expectations and government service. Those of us who value public service would ask that the electorate be diligently engaged in the debate about the decisions that affect us most.

Thank you for your own diligence in sharing your ideas and your views. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your Delegate.

By Margi Vanderhye
 

"The incumbent, Democrat Margaret G. Vanderhye, is one of the most impressive freshman delegates in Richmond -- smart, effective, and deeply knowledgeable about state and local concerns. The last attribute is a result of her 20 years of civic involvement. Unusually for a newcomer to the House, she has already won passage of several substantive bills, including one that would help marshal private funds for poor women struggling with breast or cervical cancer. Her challenger, Barbara Comstock, was a political appointee in the Bush administration. She is articulate and well briefed but unlike Ms. Vanderhye has had no significant involvement in state or local issues. She's also one of a minority of Republican candidates in Northern Virginia to sign a no-new-taxes pledge; that undercuts her own proposal to take a bipartisan approach to solving transportation problems."

Click here to see the Washington Post House of Delegates endorsements

For the second cycle in a row, The Fairfax Times has endorsed Margi's candidacy for re-election.  Here is an excerpt from their endorsement:

"Vanderhye has a well-informed, nuanced perspective on state issues and has demonstrated that she can get bills passed on a bipartisan basis. Comstock seems too quick to spout the party line instead of offering her own ideas, so we are not sure she would be the best advocate for Fairfax County issues."

 -The Fairfax Times, 10/20/09

Click here to read the entire endorsement. 

Friday October 16, 2009

For Immediate release

Contact: Julia Druhan, Vanderhye for Delegate

Julia@vanderhye.com

Vanderhye Blows Past Comstock- Again

Margi Vanderhye Once Again Out-raises her Opponent in her Bid for Re-election 

Campaign finance reports released by the State Board of Elections confirmed the buzz around the 34^th House of Delegates District in northern Virginia. Delegate Margi Vanderhye is poised to win again.

Delegate Vanderhye out-raised her nationally funded opponent, Barbara Comstock, by almost $30,000 for the September reporting period. At the end of September, Vanderhye also had almost $27,000 more cash on hand than Comstock.  This is not the first time Vanderhye has out-raised her opponent.  Vanderhye reported raising more than Comstock in the SBE reports for the June 30^th deadline and the August 31^th deadline. MORE>>

Before our area students return to school, the Labor Day holiday offers an opportunity to reflect on some important questions about our own potential and future workforce: Are we preparing our students for the world they will face when they graduate — at whatever level — and enter the workforce? Are we organized to provide the training they will need regardless of the profession they choose? What are the talents, beyond academic achievements, that they will need to compete in a global economy?

Here in the 34th District, we share a broad consensus that we must raise our students to be first class critical thinkers, not just test takers. Living close to Washington, D.C. and the Tysons Corner business center, we know that demands for innovation and entrepreneurship are driving business decisions every day, and we want to make sure our students have the necessary skills to compete. Yet here and nationwide, we are facing a shortage of highly skilled workers, especially writers, engineers, technology and math experts, nurses and technical support staff. We have some great business partnerships and apprentice programs in place, particularly at the community college level, but we need more of them. MORE>>